Mental Health is important. Now more than ever, people are struggling. Luke Donley and Jane Chatterton have listed their most helpful tips and advice to cope with this unusual way of life and uncertain times. It is important to remember that your mental health is just as significant as your physical health, so hopefully these tips can help make your days a little brighter.
Luke’s Advice:
As the UK plunges deeper and deeper into national lockdown, many students are left in a by now-familiar cycle with no end in sight to normality. With the vast majority of us at home for the foreseeable future, and with the upcoming return to remote study, it can be very difficult to feel motivated and happy. Have a look at Liberty Belle’s top tips for coping during Lockdown 3.0.
Allow yourself to feel your emotions.
In the current national situation with COVID-19, with all non-essential services closed and face-to-face contact severely restricted, it's perfectly normal to feel like there’s no end in sight. The first step to maintaining mental health is to express your emotions: allow yourself to be angry, allow yourself to be upset and allow yourself to be bitter that you are missing some of the most important years of your life. Whilst the current situation is far from ideal for anyone, that does not make your emotions any less valid or important. You do not need to always stay positive and happy.
Go outside!
Yes, we know it's freezing. We know it's already dark before you get out of bed. Whilst there is no denying it’s easier said than done, going outside and exercising is scientifically proven to be crucial to mental health, which is more important than ever in the third national lockdown. Do not worry though, you don’t have to go out jogging at 4am mid-winter. Even just going for a 10-minute walk around the block can massively improve your mental state and releases endorphins (feel-good hormones) to elevate mood.
Stay in contact with others.
Although lockdown restrictions have massively restricted face-to-face contact with others, undoubtedly made worse by the weather, keeping in contact with friends and family is an essential part of daily life. Social media, messaging apps and Skype are all effective ways of keeping in touch and maintaining a social network, albeit not as ideal as seeing others in person. Nonetheless, you can still legally meet one other person two meters apart outside, so consider grabbing a coffee and going for a socially distanced walk.
Look after yourself.
With every day seeming to blur with the next, it can often feel like there is no point getting out of bed. Although it's tempting to spend the day catching up on sleep and staying in your pyjamas, making a regular habit of this can actually be a sign of something more serious. No matter how unmotivated you feel, give yourself a target every day to do something: whether it's having a shower, writing 200 words for an essay, or just putting on new clothes, forcing yourself to do something keeps you occupied and stops you from falling deeper into low mood. Remember that if you ever feel a lot worse than normal, there are many people and groups you can reach out to.
Janes Advice:
My essay is late. I say that as if this is not completely my own fault. But the day I heard that we were in a third lockdown - I was done. In a small flat with my partner, day in day out. The same four walls, hunched over at the same desk every single day, practically praying for something to switch on in this stir-crazed brain of mine. Fourth coffee of the day. I might as well cut out the middleman and start chewing on the beans for my caffeine fix. Familiar? Okay, even if you are a bit more put together than me, there’s millions of us stuck at home, just trying to kill time until this thing is over. Here’s the kicker though – maybe it would not be so bad if we weren’t trying to do just that – kill time.
This was me last week. Don’t get me wrong, I still have bad days. I still have days where the weather is extremely uninviting, and I don’t want to get out of bed. But after realising that I’m sick of just trying to kill time - those days are fewer and further between. So here are a few hints and tips that have had a positive effect on my mental wellbeing that I hope will help with yours.
Get out every day - even if it’s raining cats and dogs!
Well, the latter part is up to you and how waterproof your coat is. I try and get outside at least once a day (even if it’s just for 15 minutes). Going for a walk first thing in the morning and getting that natural light exposure not only helps your anxiety levels, but also improves your sleep later on by helping to correct your circadian rhythm*.
Make plans that you can look forward to
It’s so easy to curl up like a little hedgehog and ignore the world. When the anxiety brain takes over, stop the cycle! Make some plans you can look forward to! It can be literally anything.
Try your hand at drag makeup and watch Ru Paul’s drag race whilst facetiming your siblings or friends.
Have a phone date with a friend you haven’t talked to for a while whilst walking around the park.
Family quiz or a murder mystery!
The other day I made a plan that after doing some work, I would make a coffee, heat up a chocolate croissant and sit at the window reading my book and do a bit of people-watching. Chocolate croissants are always worth making plans for. Make some self-plans that will bring you personal joy.
Podcasts are your friend.
I do not know about you, but I find that as the pandemic has continued there are a lot less distractions from incessant internal dialogue. Though Netflix is an easy way to switch it off, watching endless Netflix just does not make you feel good, nor does it get the flat clean. Sometimes if the chatter is driving me mad, I have found that podcasts are great. It takes away your attention from your internal thoughts and makes exercise or everyday jobs a lot less boring. A great podcast to understand more about your mental processes in the context of this crazy world we live in is the ‘Where Is My Mind?’ podcast by Niall Breslin (found on Spotify and Apple Podcasts). Or how about you learn something completely new! I am also listening to ‘Star Talk with Neil deGrasse Tyson’ (Google Podcasts). Though it is a topic I’ve never thought I’d be interested in, it’s funny and engaging. With a mix of comics, celebrities, and scientists, learning more about the universe has certainly zipped me through the house chores.
Yoga!
I know that so many people bang on about yoga, but I cannot tell you how good it feels once you kind of know what you’re doing. If cardio and weights went out the window months ago, yoga is a great way to get back into looking after yourself. It focuses your mind, calms your anxiety and after a couple of weeks you may even be able to touch your toes again! I highly recommend ‘Yoga with Adriene’ on YouTube. She is great for both beginner and experienced yogis. Just start with a ten-minute video and you will be hooked!
Give yourself a break.
You are not going to do everything perfect. There may still be days where your productivity level is at complete zero. Instead of getting down about it, make incremental steps, if you are day in terms of productivity, good habits, or fun is the teensiest better than the previous day – you’re doing great! Accept that you are an imperfect person in an imperfect world and just do your best.
Reach Out
You are not alone my friend! I cannot tell you the difference it makes just being able to talk to someone about your worries and anxieties. Friends and family are great for those low moments. However, if you are feeling like you need someone who doesn’t know you to help put things into perspective, I’d highly recommend the Student Wellbeing Service that the university provides. You can either read through the self-help section or it is really easy to book a video or telephone appointment. They will listen to your worries and can help to point you in the right direction.
Student Wellbeing Service - https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ssid/wellbeing
Mental Wellbeing Self-Help - https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/mental-wellbeing/self-help-guide
Edited by Victoria Sales